RickRoper

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*Oh dear*, if this is the case, I am not happy, as I took it that it'd appear as in the photograph. I have ordered 2007 as well, but wanted the Walschaerts Loco in original guise. That's £200+ committed, unless I cancel my order. Richard.

I have a question... I pre-ordered Earl Marischal from the Hornby website earlier in the year, as I saw the image on the Hornby website... Now as far as I am concerned, I have ordered a model of 2002 which is in "as-built" form. Fast forward to last week, and a perusal of the P2 Locomotive Company's website, and it shows CAD renderings of 2002 with the secondary "Elephant's Ears"... Is 2002 going to be produced in purely original form, or has a decision been taken to make it with the later smoke deflectors? Or are both versions being made? I am not a fan of its later look, much preferring its as-built condition, which the photo on the Hornby webpage implies is the way it's being produced. Any further input would be greatly appreciated! Richard Roper.

I'm really please that Earl Marischal is being produced, and have ordered one to go with my Cock o' The North. I've also noted that 2001 had its Lentz gear removed in 1939, this being replaced by Walschaerts gear, so that's another option - 2001 with Walschaerts gear. Really looking forward to these, and the Thompson A2/3s! Richard.

Many Thanks for your advice chaps, much appreciated! Richard.

I have just taken delivery of a Bachmann L&Y Radial Tank, and the metal whistle is very wobbly in its hole in the cab roof. Can anyone please recommend a suitable glue for re-locating it? I have a bottle of years-old Liquid Poly, but don't know what's best for metal to plastic these days! Many Thanks in advance, Richard.

Thank You Pre Grouping Fan! Much appreciated!

Well, this looks like being a wallet-lightening year for me then! Coronation stock is a must. One question about the Coronation Locos though - The rear truck wheelsets look as though they may be flanged. I'm hoping this may be an option, as I bought my model of 46256 a couple of years back, and am still looking for a trailing truck flanged wheelset as a replacement for what I think are horrible flangeless wheels. I'm also looking at making the rear truck pivot as it should. Does anyone know if replacement flanged rear truck wheelsets are available? Also, the A2/2 & A2/3s look tantalising, as do the models of 10000 & 60700. Well done Hornby! Richard.

And as the photo evidence shows, plenty of girls liked a nice chopper too! Richard.

Thank You for that Ernie, I haven't got access to my books at the moment, so have become somewhat out-of-touch recently. Richard.

The Far North Lines to Wick & Thurso were Highland Railway lines, not Caley. Richard.

Interesting watching at twice the speed too, gives a good impression of the sound at speed! Richard.

Just received mine too... Wrong name, right address, right model. Packaging is superb! Having opened the box, I must congratulate the chaps at Rapido not only for their superb model, but also for the instruction book, which puts a whole new comic slant on things! Anyone who doesn't find the instruction book funny must already have started their journey from somewhere to nowhere via the sense of humour avoiding line... Having unboxed mine, there's a very slight rearward dip in the front section of the running plate, but nowhere near as bad as in photos above (mine is negligible). The rear tender wheelset is dragging a bit though, feels a little tight when rotated by hand. Any ideas how to free it up very slightly? Top model, top marks Rapido! Thank You! Richard.

That is a most welcome piece of information! Having read Ossie Nock's book on the GNR Atlantics, it would be nice to see models of some of the rank and file of this class of locos. Richard.

Would that be St. Pauls, via Halifax North Bridge, Holmfield and the Halifax High Level Railway? If so, I'll order one! Richard.

I have the Hornby model of BR Black No. 42363, which as a model I am on the whole perfectly happy with detail-wise, but it's never been a smooth runner, and does indeed have traction tyres on the rear drivers, together with a pair of coil springs fitted in recesses in the chassis block, to pre-tension said rear drivers... The tyres on the rear drivers give rise to a wobbling motion, which has always nagged away at me. If new releases do not have traction tyres, I will definitely consider purchasing one... Richard.

Is anyone able to confirm that the model of 46256 will be produced with a pivoting rear truck, as per prototype? I can fully understand a fixed truck on the cartazzi fitted locos, but would not be impressed if a rear bissel truck were to be modelled in a fixed position. Richard.

Many Thanks for your response Mike! I'll get 1x X9108 ordered and get to work on it! I'm still wondering if Hornby are planning on releasing Earl Marischal in original form too - That would be worth getting hold of as well. Richard.

Oh dear. Thank You for looking though! I'm wondering if there's a suitable replacement motor like the x9108, but with a longer shaft projection at the rear, capable of taking the flywheel. Richard

I have a quick question: I am looking at re-motoring my P2, and have seen that x9108 is an almost straightforward swap. But, could anyone please tell me if x9712 is a 5-pole skew-wound motor, and if that can be made to fit easily? I was thinking of adding the flywheel to the redundant worm shaft. Many Thanks for any help! Rick Roper.

I wasn't quoting the price exactly, as I haven't yet looked at purchasing one. What I mean, metaphorically speaking, is that it's a bl**dy lot of money when it still needs attention to detail. It's otherwise a superb model, no doubting that - But I don't want to have to start messing around with it! Richard.

What do you mean WTF? If you look at a photo of the real thing, the valvegear geometry on the model is incorrect. What's the point of modelling it in such fine detail if there's an error like that? If you're prepared to accept that, it's up to you - I don't accept it. the chaps on the Severn Valley probably wouldn't accept it on the real thing either, as it would likely do untold damage! I'm not expecting miracles from a 4mm scale model, but at such a price, I would expect attention to detail at this level. Richard.

That's just put me off buying it... An otherwise superb model spoiled by the production of one driving wheel casting instead of two. May be an easy job to rectify, but I won't justify spending upwards of £150 to have to do it. Valvegear geometry is every bit as important as the rest of the fine detail. Hornby don't seem to have a problem getting it right. Richard.

Forgive my ignorance, but does anyone know how far progress has been made with this model yet? All seems to have gone very quiet lately... Richard.

Having bought the excellent model of Cock O' The North in detailed form, I wonder if Hornby have any plans to produce Earl Marischal in as -built form? I always thought this one looked the more imposing of the 2 originals, with Walschaerts valvegear. Is Hornby still pursuing the "Design Clever" avenue, or have they gone back to producing "full-spec" super-detailed models? Rick Roper.